Sierra Senior Center

06/23/2026

06/21/2026

Fathers are honored and celebrated each year on Father's Day. Not only does the day focus on fathers, but on any father figures as well, such as stepfathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and fathers-in-law. The roots of the day come from a mining accident that occurred at the Fairmont Coal Company in Monongah, West Virginia, in December 1907, where 362 men lost their lives due to an explosion. Many of these men were fathers, and a memorial church service was held for them in 1908. This was the first large event that honored fathers. It was a one-time event, though, and it was not until two years later that the first Father's Day took place.

06/20/2026

The bald eagle is the national symbol and emblem of the United States, as well as the country's national bird. Today we celebrate the bald eagle, on the anniversary of the day in 1782 when the seal bearing its image became official. Besides being celebrated for being on the Great Seal and for being the country's symbol and national bird, the eagle is celebrated today for its recovery after almost becoming extinct, for the values and ideals it has come to represent, and for its importance to American folklore and society.

06/14/2026

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which took place on June 14, 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson made a proclamation establishing June 14th as Flag Day. In August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an act of Congress, which was signed by Harry Truman. However, Flag Day is not an official federal holiday. Before the government recognized Flag Day, citizens had been celebrating it and working to bring it to prominence for many years. Bernard J. Cigrand, a schoolteacher from Waubeka, Wisconsin, held the first formal observance of "Flag Day" at Stony Hill School in 1885. Cigrand continued to advocate for Flag Day and became the president of the American Flag Day Association and the National Flag Day Society. Cigrand is usually described as the "Father of Flag Day." On June 14, 1894, over 300,000 public school students celebrated Flag Day in parks across Chicago. In the 1890's, observances took place in other cities such as New York City and Philadelphia. Currently, the week of June 14th is known as "National Flag Week", and the president makes a proclamation urging people to fly flags for its duration. Flags are flown on government buildings as well.